Title

Mesozoic Origin for West Indian Insectivores

Authors

Alfred L. Roca, National Cancer Institute at Frederick
Gila Kahila Bar-Gal, National Cancer Institute at Frederick
Eduardo Eizirik, National Cancer Institute at Frederick; PUCRS - Brazil
Kristofer M. Helgen, University of Adelaide - Australia
Roberto Maria, Parque Zoologico Nacional - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Mark S. Springer, University of California - Riverside
Stephen J. O'Brien, National Cancer Institute at FrederickFollow
William J. Murphy, National Cancer Institute at Frederick

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-10-2004

Publication Title

Nature

ISSN

0028-0836

Volume

429

Issue/No.

6992

First Page

649

Last Page

651

Abstract

The highly endangered solenodons, endemic to Cuba (Solenodon cubanus) and Hispaniola (S. paradoxus), comprise the only two surviving species of West Indian insectivores. Combined gene sequences (13.9 kilobases) from S. paradoxus established that solenodons diverged from other eulipotyphlan insectivores 76 million years ago in the Cretaceous period, which is consistent with vicariance, though also compatible with dispersal. A sequence of 1.6 kilobases of mitochondrial DNA from S. cubanus indicated a deep divergence of 25 million years versus the congeneric S. paradoxus, which is consistent with vicariant origins as tectonic forces separated Cuba and Hispaniola. Efforts to prevent extinction of the two surviving solenodon species would conserve an entire lineage as old or older than many mammalian orders.

Comments

©2004 Nature Publishing Group

Additional Comments

GenBank accession #s: AY530066-AY530088

NSUWorks Citation

Roca, Alfred L.; Gila Kahila Bar-Gal; Eduardo Eizirik; Kristofer M. Helgen; Roberto Maria; Mark S. Springer; Stephen J. O'Brien; and William J. Murphy. 2004. "Mesozoic Origin for West Indian Insectivores." Nature 429, (6992): 649-651. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_bio_facarticles/559

ORCID ID

0000-0001-7353-8301

ResearcherID

N-1726-2015